Published 4:44 pm, Tuesday, April 17, 2012

10 heads are better than one: Comedian/ventriloquist Terry Fator, winner of season two of "America's Got Talent," performs at the MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods on Friday, April 20.
Photo: Contributed Photo

However, Fator, who is best known for his victory on season two of "America's Got Talent," lets others do the talking -- 10 others, in fact.

"In 2005 ... I re-wrote my show so my puppets did the impressions," Fator said. "That's when things started happening."

After winning "America's Got Talent" in 2007, the singing ventriloquist went on to appear on "The Today Show," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." Finally, in 2008, his biggest dream was realized when he signed a multi-year contract to perform at the famed Las Vegas resort, The Mirage.

His cast of crooning characters -- Berry Fabulous, Winston the Impersonating Turtle, Walter T. Airdale, Duggie Scott Walker, Vikki "The Cougar" and Wrex the crash test dummy, among others -- came along for the ride -- a long and bumpy ride.

"I went from being completely unknown after more than 20 years of working, to catapulting into stardom," said Fator, who performs at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods on Friday, April 20. "It's the American dream."

In an interview last week, Fator talked about teaching his puppets to sing, struggling for years before rising to the top and being back on the road following his successful run in Sin City.

Q: You traveled for years before getting your gig in Las Vegas. What has it been like working at the Mirage?

A: We just celebrated our third anniversary on Sunday. It's been completely and utterly surreal. It's everything I've ever dreamed of. For 20 years, I traveled. I was gone 10 to 11 months every year. I can't tell you how difficult that was. Many times, I truly wanted to give it all up. Being able to perform on the same stage every night and go home to my bed, it's been amazing.

Q: I bet it's a lot different travelling now than it was before you became famous.

A: (Laughs) Right. Now, I can stay in really nice hotels. They take really good care of me. Back then, they used to stick me next to the petting zoo.

Q: (Laughs) When did you get your big break? Was it your appearance on "America's Got Talent," or did it come before that?

A: It was a process. But when it happened, it happened remarkably fast. I traveled for 20 years, trying hard to get noticed, but no one noticed me. I was a ventriloquist who did impressions. Then, I saw Danny Gans, a performer in Las Vegas who did impressions, in 2005. I thought, "I can do every single voice he does, but I can do them without moving my lips." So, I re-wrote my show so the puppets did the impressions. That's when things started happening.

Q: And then you did "America's Got Talent?"

A: That's right. But I didn't think I could win. I just kept hoping to make it through to one more episode. Then, before I knew it, I had made it through the entire season. Winston the Impersonating Turtle, without a doubt, was the one who won over America with his performance of Roy Orbison's "Crying." That's the one that convinced people to get out their phones and vote for me.

Q: Aside from Orbison, I've heard your singing impersonations of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvis and Michael Jackson. They're spot on. How did you develop this talent and how did you go about incorporating it into your act?

A: I have such a diverse appreciation for different styles of music. Growing up, I was never allowed to listen to one style of music. There was a lot to choose from. What I did was I picked my favorite stuff, something like Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley or the Beatles, and then I'd create a character who would be able to do their songs. It's worked out very well for me, letting these guys sing. The audience seems to like it.